Sylvester Stallone reflects on his triumphant journey with nostalgic memories in Sly: A Rocky Rise

Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger can now laugh at their past rivalry, where they constantly tried to outdo each other in terms of box-office success. However, in terms of Netflix documentary memoirs, Arnold takes the lead with his three-part series that easily surpasses Stallone's self-centered reflection on his rise to fame through "Rocky."

To put it simply, Stallone dominates the documentary by extensively discussing his life and career. While there are a few interesting revelations - such as serendipitous casting in "Rocky" and Dolph Lundgren hospitalizing him during the production of "Rocky IV" - there is also a significant amount of self-promotion and repetitive insights.

Stallone candidly discusses his experience of growing up with his abusive father, which fueled his motivation to start writing as a means of venting his frustration with the typecast roles he was consistently offered. Additionally, he shares how he made the courageous decision to decline a substantial amount of money for the production of "Rocky" due to the studio's strong opposition towards his involvement as the lead actor, despite their approval of the script. Looking back through archived footage and recent interviews, it becomes evident that "Rocky" became a transformative moment in Stallone's life, while unfortunately overshadowing his brother, Frank, who became largely recognized solely as "Rocky's brother."

Before finding a successful niche in the franchise business with the ongoing "Rocky" and "Rambo" movies, Stallone faced setbacks like "F.I.S.T." and "Paradise Alley" following his initial success. It's often overlooked how easily these failures are forgotten as the sequels and profits piled up.

Sylvester Stallone earlier in his career, as seen in "Sly."

Netflix

Featuring interviews with Schwarzenegger and "Rocky" co-star Talia Shire, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, and Henry Winkler (co-star in "The Lords of Flatbush"), director Thomas Zimny ("Springsteen on Broadway") seems to be satisfied with letting this project be known as "The World According to Sly."

The documentary's clear intention is to humanize its subject, presenting a Stallone who is older and wiser, now possessing a perspective on his pursuit for success in the theater. Stallone reflects on the importance of family, briefly touching upon the tragic death of his son, Sage, in 2012, as well as the unresolved issues, primarily concerning his father, that influenced his work. There is even a brief segment addressing his regrettable ventures into lighter films, such as "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot," with Schwarzenegger claiming to have deceived him into doing it.

However, the unwavering focus on Stallone's perspective hinders "Sly" from effectively contextualizing his filmography within the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, specifically in relation to Rambo and Rocky's roles as Cold War symbols. Simply put, Zimny has allowed it to feel too much like a commercial product rather than a comprehensive documentary.

Similar to "Arnold," "Val," "STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie," and numerous other nostalgic documentaries released in recent years, "Sly" serves as a valuable record of pop culture, allowing an influential talent to recount their journey for those who grew up admiring their work. However, when compared to the finest examples of this genre, it falls short and lacks the substance to be considered a genuine contender.

"Sly" premieres November 3 on Netflix.